The Apostle Paul has an attitude that we as True Worshipers must possess if we are to endure to the end and enter the Kingdom of Yahweh.
Philippians 4:4-9 provides his valuable instruction:
“Rejoice in Yahweh always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Master is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto Elohim. And the peace of Yahweh, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Messiah Yahshua. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the Elohim of peace shall be with you.”
Paul was no hypocrite; he practiced what he preached. Here was a man who had much that he could have complained about. Second Corinthians 11 gives an account of his many trials:
“Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the assemblies. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities” (vv. 24-30).
Despite all his sufferings, rather than dwell upon the negative with grief and sadness, Paul instead chose to look on the bright side with joy and a positive attitude. He turned the sorrow and weakness of adversity into joy and strength.
We read in 2Corinthians 12:9-10: “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Messiah may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Messiah’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
The Forerunner Commentary describes Paul’s attitude this way: “Paul turned what could have sent him into deep bitterness and passivity…into a strength (humility and a deeper reliance on [Yahweh]). As painful, frustrating or hindering as it was, his circumstance never deterred him from being an apostle who by the grace of [Yahweh] labored more abundantly than all others.”
Finding joy in times of sorrow and strength in times of weakness was the hallmark of the Apostle Paul’s ministry.
Our Attitude
As sincere seekers of Truth, each of us should possess this same positive attitude and express joy in the face of all adversity and trouble. We must be a people with positive attitudes if we are to endure the difficult times that lie ahead.
Our Savior Yahshua the Messiah also instructed His disciples to have a forward-looking attitude regardless of the difficulties faced.
“And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him. And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see Elohim. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of Elohim. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you,” Matthew 5:1-12.
Take special note of that last verse. Yahshua tells us to rejoice… for great is your reward! For those sincere seekers with an upbeat attitude, adversity will always motivate them toward great spirituality. They will be a people of joy who rejoice in their reward in the Kingdom.
We also see that joy and a right attitude is an important element of the fruits of the Spirit, as we read in Galatians 5:22-26. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Messiah’s have impaled the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”
The Day of Destruction
Isaiah describes a very horrific time in the future, a day of trouble and distress, the day of Yahweh.
“Howl ye; for the day of Yahweh is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames. Behold, the day of Yahweh cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of Yahweh of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up: they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land. Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword. Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished,” Isaiah 13:6-16.
Our Reward
It may be quite difficult to think of having a positive attitude during such a gruesome time. However, by having joy in adversity and looking on the positive side, we will be better equipped to endure and thereby receive a reward; Jeremiah 31:1-9 gives us hope for such a reward.
“At the same time, saith Yahweh, will I be the Elohim of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. Thus saith Yahweh, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. Yahweh hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry. Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things. For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto Yahweh our Elohim. For thus saith Yahweh; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O Yahweh, save thy people, the remnant of Israel. Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither. They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.”
As long as we possess an optimistic attitude, and remember the adage, “this too shall pass,” we have the ability to get through any difficulties that we may face.
Yahshua’s Advice
As a final thought, we rely on Yahshua the Messiah to be our guide in how to balance sorrow and adversity with the joy that shall ultimately come in the Kingdom of Yahweh. John 16:19-24 reads:
“Now Yahshua knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
May our joy be made full as we reflect the mind of Yahshua.
